Shoulder Passes Its Stress Test, Says Longley

7-week Layoff Leaves Some Rust, But Center Satisfied With Return

Luc Longley stepped on the United Center floor for the first time in almost two months. The crowd was more than ready, with those familiar cries of "Luc, Luc."

It wasn't quite the return Longley hoped for in his first game back after separating his left shoulder in November. But it was what everybody expected. He wasn't exactly sharp but he passed his first test in the Bulls' 108-107 victory over the Washington Bullets.

Longley's line: nine points, three rebounds, 27 minutes. More important, his shoulder stood up to the pounding of Washington's 7-foot-7-inch, 303-pound Gheorghe Muresan.

While taking the protective sleeve from his shoulder, Longley said there was no soreness. It was a little red, though.

"It might not look that good but it feels good," he said. "I thought I showed that I thought I played pretty well. I had energy and I had fresh knees."

And the pounding Longley took from Muresan?

"I didn't even notice so I guess I did pass the test," Longley said.

His presence did take the offense out of whack at first. The Bulls also were playing without guard Ron Harper, who took Longley's spot on the injured list. Toni Kukoc started in Harper's place.

Longley missed his first shot, but connected on his second--a short jumper over Muresan. His legs looked lively in his eight first-quarter minutes. But the Bulls were down 30-23.

"Luc was OK but he was a little rusty," said Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

Longley looked more comfortable on the floor as the game went on. And Jackson expects him to get more and more comfortable as the week goes on.

"He has to do the touch things and the passing and shooting and other things that require execution," he said. "Then he has to get in sync with guys in play patterns. It's going to be an overload for Luc the next couple of days."